Phosphene

This article is about the visual illusion. For the PH3 gas, see phosphine. For the COCl2 gas, see phosgene. For unsaturated phosphorus compounds, see diphosphene and phosphaalkene.
"Seeing stars" redirects here. For other uses, see Seeing Stars (disambiguation).
artistic representation of phosphenes
An artist's representation of how some people may see phosphenes by retinal stimulation

A phosphene is the phenomenon of seeing light without light entering the eye. The word phosphene comes from the Greek words phos (light) and phainein (to show). Phosphenes that are induced by movement or sound may be associated with optic neuritis.[1][2]

Phosphenes can be induced by mechanical, electrical, or magnetic stimulation of the retina or visual cortex, or by random firing of cells in the visual system. Phosphenes have also been reported by meditators[3] (called nimitta), people who endure long periods without visual stimulation (the prisoner's cinema), or those who ingest psychedelic drugs.[4]

  1. ^ Davis, F. A.; Bergen, D.; Schauf, C.; McDonald, I.; Deutsch, W. (1 November 1976). "Movement phosphenes in optic neuritis: A new clinical sign". Neurology. 26 (11): 1100–1104. doi:10.1212/wnl.26.11.1100. PMID 988518. S2CID 32511771.
  2. ^ Page, N.; Bolger, J.; Sanders, M. (1 January 1982). "Auditory evoked phosphenes in optic nerve disease". Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 45 (1): 7–12. doi:10.1136/jnnp.45.1.7. PMC 491258. PMID 7062073.
  3. ^ Nicholson, Philip T. (2002). "The Soma Code, Part III: Visions, Myths, and Drugs". Electronic Journal of Vedic Studies. 8 (3): 70–92. doi:10.11588/ejvs.2002.3.942.
  4. ^ Klüver, Heinrich (1966). Mescal, and Mechanisms of hallucinations. University of Chicago Press. p. 70. OCLC 1194424731.